Acrobat&#39;s stand.



J. WALLIN. AGROBAT'S STAND.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1914.

1,128,201 Patented Feb.9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor Witnesses Attorneys J. WALLIN.

AGROBATS STAND. APPLIGATION FILED MAY 4, 1914.

1,128,201. Patented Feb.9, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

Attorneys 'HE NORRIS PETERS (20., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTONv D. C.

JENNIE WALLIN, OF ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS.

ACROBATS STAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedFeb. a, 1915.

Application filed. May 4, 1914. Serial No. 836,247.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JENNIE W AL LIN, a citizen of the United States, resldlng at Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Acrobats Stand, of which the following is a specification. p

This invention relates to a novel stand for acrobats andv more particularly to a stand which is used in connection with a slack wire performance.

One object of the present inventlon is to provide a stand adapted to support an acrobat in different positions while holding one end of a slack wire in the mouth.

A. further object is to provide a stand of ladder-like characteristics and upon which is mounted a platform with suitable foot holds thereon and upon which platform are mounted suitable supportin means so that the acrobat may, while hol ing one end of a slack wire in the mouth, assume various positions such as standing, sitting, bendlng backward, etc.

With the foregoing and other ob ects 1n View which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and 1n the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a perspective view taken from above the stand. Figs. 2 and 3 are perspectlve views taken from below showing two methods of using the same.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, 1-1 designate standards, between which extend a plurality of cross struts 2 which act in the capacity of ladder rungs with the standards 1 as the stiles. The lower ends of the standards are bent or flared outwardly as at 3 so as to increase the stability of the entire structure by increasing the distance between the points of support thereof. A platform 4 1s rigidly secured to the standards 1 and ls'made rigid thereto by the angularly disposed braces 5. The platform is of suflicient dimensions to accommodate a person thereon and is accessible by climbing the ladderlike structure formed by the standards 1 and cross struts 2. Suitable toe holds 6 are secured upon the platform adjacent the outer edge and afl'ord gripping means for the acrobat during the use of the stand, as will be more fully hereinafter pointed out.

Positioned a distance above the platform and extending parallel therewith are the horizontal bars 7 rigidly secured at their forward extremities to the standards 1 and provided at their rear extremities with the toe holding members 8. A bar or back rest 9 serves as a support for the back'of the acrobat when the feet are disposed in the foot holding members 8. The standards project a distance above the back rest 9 and form what are termed the handles 10, providing a suitable grip for the acrobats hands when standing upon the platform and facing toward the opposite stand. Suitable guy wires 11 are provided and are secured to the standards 1 and lock the stand rigidly in an upright position. The stand as thus constructed is used by an acrobat who holds one end of a slack wire in the teeth while a second acrobat performs on said wire. The acrobat upon the stand may assume a position with the feet in the toe holds 8, with the back rest 9 supporting the small of the back and with the hands free, the acrobat being prevented from being pulled off of the stand by reason of the legs contacting with the handles 10. It is to be noted in this connection that the acrobats head is below the slack wireof the acrobat in a downward direction and which weight will be effectively distributed to the back rest 9, the handles 10, and the toe holds 8, thus preventing undue pressure being brought to bear upon a single point or place of the acrobats body. A somewhat similar posture may be maintained by the acrobat with the feet in the lower toe holds 6 with the body bent backward and with the arms grasping the standards 1 a slight distance above the horizontal bars 7 in such manner that the upper portions of the acrobats arms adjacent the shoulders rest upon the said horizontal bar. This takes up the downward stress while the hands and toes effectively take up the horizontal pull. In like manner, the acrotures in which the weight or force exerted upon the acrobat will be distributed so that excessive pressure at one point of contact will be avoided.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is:- p

1'. An apparatus of the class described comprising upright standards, a platform supported thereby, toe holding members carried by said platform, horizontal bars positioned above said platform and rigidly secured to said standards projecting rearwardly therefrom.

2. An apparatus of the class described, comprising upright standards, a platform supported thereby, toe holding members carried by said platform, horizontal bars positioned above said platform and rigidly secured to said standards, projecting rearwardly therefrom, and means engaging said standards adapted to hold the same in an upright manner.

3. An apparatus of the class described, comprising upright standards, a platform supported thereby, toe holding members carried by said platform, horizontal bars positioned above'said platform and rigidly secured to said standards, projecting rearwardly therefrom, means engaging said standards adapted to hold the same in an upright manner, and cross struts extending between and secured to the said standards for bracing the same and forming a ladderlike structure therewith, rendering accessiblethe said platform.

4;. An apparatus of the class described, comprising upright standards, horizontal bars projecting therefrom and secured thereto, toe holding members carried at the extremities of said horizontal bars, and a back rest extending between said standards above said horizontal bars and positioned a distance below the extremities of the standards, said standards above the back rest forming gripping handles.

5. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a pair of upright standards,

the lower extremities thereof bent in opposite directions and forming flaring supporting legs, aplurality of cross struts extending between said standards, bracing the same, and forming a ladder-like structure therewith, a platform carried by and projecting rearwardly from said standards, rendered accessible by said ladder-dike structure, a pair of horizontally extending bars secured to the said standards, positioned above the said platform, and provided with toe holding members at the outermost extremities thereof, and a back rest extending between the said standards and positioned above the said horizontally extending bars and below the upper extremities of the said standards, the portions of the standards projecting above the back rest forming gripping handles.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JENNIE VALLIN. l Vitnesses:

FRANK PARRISH, WILL ExonLA.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

